Shock reduction muzzle brake

A shock reduction muzzle brake comprising (a) a tube that defines a path for a projectile, the tube having a longitudinal axis extending from a rear end to a forward end, the tube defining a side wall extending between the rear end and the forward end, and (b) multiple forwardly-inclined holes extending through the side wall to divert propellant gases away from the path of the projectile, where an outlet of each hole is closer to the forward end of the tube than the inlet of the hole;

• where (i) the side wall of the tube has a substantially smooth inside surface that is interrupted by flow-redirecting protrusions that extend approximately 0.1 inch (approximately 0.25 centimeter) to approximately 0.5 inch (approximately 1.3 centimeters) from the inside surface toward the axis of the tube;
• (ii) where the side wall of the tube includes approximately one hole per inch (approximately two-and-a-half centimeters) of length of the tube to approximately one hole per six inches (approximately fifteen centimeters) of length of the tube;
• and (iii) where the side wall of the tube has approximately 10% to 70% of inlet openings to the holes per unit length of the tube.